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Daily articles carefully curated by the All About Jazz staff. Read our popular and future articles.
The Volcanic World Of Pyroclastic Records

As listeners we so often typecast musicians and music labels. Artists are pigeonholed into silos: classical, jazz, rock, blues, pop, etc.. Go into any record store (if you can find a brick & mortar one) and this segregation, a forced separation, is also evident. Even streaming services are divided in this manner. Maybe it is just human nature to create species designation for artists. It's a way for listeners, similar to the work of biologists grouping living organisms that are ...
read moreMy Dear Acquaintance - A Happy New Year

My last broadcast of the decade included several women-penned songs for New Years Eve, with new releases by Boogaloo Joe Jones, Kris Davis and Cathy Segal-Garcia, plus birthday shout outs to Cab Calloway, Una Mae Carlisle, Chris McNulty, Katie Bull, Annie Lennox and Janice Friedman, among others. Also remembering those artists lost in 2019 with a special nod to Allee Willis (pictured) in the second hour. Playlist Fostina Dixon Thank You" from Vertical Alignment (Self released) 00:00 Dr. ...
read moreKris Davis: Diatom Ribbons

To call pianist Kris Davis stylistically omnivorous would seem to be an understatement. While she started her career solidly in the avant-garde circles that brought her into projects with stalwarts of the genre like Ingrid Laubrock, Tyshawn Sorey, Tom Rainey and Tony Malaby, that hasn't stopped her from forging connections with other musicians not typically included in that category. Most recently, she collaborated in 2017 with saxophonist JD Allen and his trio on some tribute performances in recognition of the ...
read moreKris Davis: Diatom Ribbons

Cross fertilization has been at the heart of jazz since its inception when African rhythms met European instrumentation. That stylistic melange is taken to another level in the cultural melting pot of New York City. Being based in the city since 2001, it's little surprise that Canadian pianist Kris Davis has developed an ever-expanding list of associates. But Davis refuses to recognize boundaries, so she has found a way to incorporate their diverse backgrounds on Diatom Ribbons, the third release ...
read moreKris Davis: Diatom Ribbons

The virtuoso pianist and composer Kris Davis has been ubiquitous in 2019. Her projects with Nate Wooley, Ken Vandermark, and Craig Taborn have been complemented by her appointment to the faculty of the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice. Davis will serve as associate director of creative development and teach composition and improvisation courses. The Berklee program's founder and artistic director, Terri Lyne Carrington, is one member of the outstanding ensemble that appears on Davis' new project Diatom Ribbons. ...
read moreKris Davis and Craig Taborn Live at The Wexner Center For The Arts

Kris Davis and Craig Taborn The Wexner Center For The Arts Columbus, OH October 7, 2016 The two-week, 12 city tour was billed as Kris Davis and Craig Taborn piano duos. It might have been better advertised as a solo act, let's call it 'Davborn' or maybe 'Krisaig.' This is because Friday night, the pianists' two hearts beat as one, as did their sound. Davis has recently released her new ...
read moreKris Davis: Duopoly

Query: when does improvised music appear more arranged than written compositions? The question is not a zen koan, it is the notion put forth by the sixteen duets performed by pianist Kris Davis and her eight collaborating partners. Davis, who can no longer be labeled a rising star" of jazz and improvised piano, is a fully formed mature performer. Her dozen or so discs as leader and multiple collaborations with Michael Formanek, Ingrid Laubrock, Tyshawn Sorey, Jon Irabagon, and Eric ...
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